Riddle Me Rochester: Navigating Local Fun Facts- September 25th

One of our passengers’ favorite parts of their Sam Patch cruise is navigating through Lock 32,
one of the many “boat elevators” along the length of the Erie Canal. Engineering marvels of
their time, the Erie Canal’s locks make it possible for boats to negotiate the canal’s 566 feet of
elevation change from the Hudson River to Lake Erie. Here is Part 1 of a quiz about one of
Rochester’s locks, Lock 32, located at the intersection of the Erie Canal and Clover St. in
Pittsford.

1. When was the current Lock 32 built?

a. 1824
b. 1850
c. 1916
d. 1932

2. How large is Lock 32?

a. 150 feet long X 30 feet wide
b. 216 feet long X 36 feet wide
c. 329 feet long X 44 feet wide
d. 395 feet long X 50 feet wide

3. How far does the water in Lock 32 rise or lower during operation?

a. 12.3 feet
b. 16.8 feet
c. 21.5 feet
d. 25.1 feet

4. How many gallons of water does it take to raise the level of water in the lock so that
boats can travel out the western gate?

a. 38,000 gallons
b. 256,000 gallons
c. 1.3 million gallons
d. 2.7 million gallons

5. How long does it take to raise the water level from low to high?

a. About 5 minutes
b. About 9 minutes
c. About 12 minutes
d. About 16 minutes

6. How are the lock doors opened on each side of the lock?

a. Electric motors
b. Manual cranks
c. Water pressure
d. Pneumatic tubes